The Call of the Crystal | The Dark Crystal Adventure Game
'Another World... Another Time... in the Age of Resistance!'
TYPE
SYSTEM
LANGUAGE
EXPERIENCE
AGE
$20.00
/ Session
Details
Bi-weekly / Saturday - 9:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3–4 hours
Campaign Length / 6+ Sessions
0 / 5 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
Thra is an ancient world filled with mysteries, and not even Mother Aughra knows everything... For the last age the Skeksis Empire has ruled the Gelfling population. In recent, what began as rumor has been confirmed as fact that the Skeksis have been slaughtering Gelfling in some ritual to extend their own lives. The Resistance has risen up amongst the Gelfling clans to challenge Skeksis rule. Not all Gelfling agree with the Resistance. Many believe that the Skeksis must be reasoned with or even surrendered to, but most agree that without interdiction, the Skeksis plan to violently re-conquer the Gelfling lands. The Age of Division is ended. The Age of Resistance is upon us. Besides the Gelfling, the Resistance includes not only the Gelfling Clans, but also the Podling people – small, joyful creatures – the Arathim of the Ascendancy – subterranean crustacean creatures that have not been seen since the Arathim Wars – and some have said that even Aughra, the mythical entity of fate said to be the voice of Thra, has been said to be sighted. The Dark Crystal Adventure Game is a dice-based role-playing game where you play a convocation of Gelfling on a mission to preserve the world while trying to survive during the Age of Resistance. Play as a Gelfling of one of the seven clans now free from the fallen Skeksis Empire. Maybe you're a Drenchan survivalist accustomed to swimming through the Swamp of Sog or a nomadic Dousan of one of the Xeric communities of the Crystal Desert. Perhaps you are one of the harried Spriton farmers of the Heartlands, who are still so close to the central location of Skeksis power, or one of the fallen nobility of the Vapra of the northern Fjordlands, now distanced from the power granted by the Skeksis. Perhaps you are a Stonewood warrior of the Endless Forest, or a Sifan merchant of the Silver Sea, or even one of the diasporized Grottan now pushed from their cave dwellings.
Game style
Combat Lite
Roleplay Heavy
Sandbox / Open World
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(11)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
6 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Inclusive
Average response time: 10 hours
Response rate: 50%
About me
Looking for immersive games, well-woven stories, and a guide through the manifold worlds of story hidden within your very own mind? Look no further wanderer… Hello All! I’m Josh! I’m a Midwest based DM, MC, GM, and general enjoyer of running TTRPG’s. I run the gamut from cozy combat-lite/combat-free games to lethal horror games. I love running for all levels of player curating games to challenge advanced players and curating experiences for those dipping their toes into a game system for the first time. I have been a gamemaster for 8 years! Much of that time has been spent bouncing between running long-term campaigns for primarily experienced players and running one-shots and limited-term campaigns for beginners. I believe that storytelling has the power to build community and forge a sense of togetherness. Storytelling is an act of collaboration, collectivism, and community-building, which is enriched by uniting through empathy, and curating a space where all stories are welcomed and given voice. Outside GM-ing, I spend much of my time as a playwright and theatre-maker. I use the skills from that aspect of my life to enrich gameplay including, graphics, projections, soundscapes, effects, character materials, and occasional costuming or physical props. Anything that serves to build a better story together! We all have stories to tell, and I cannot wait to hear yours. See you at the table!!
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Build and Concept for character creation will be one-on-one (either video call or chat exchange: player preference) to develop 'character relationship to world'. Session 0 will be building 'character relationship to character' and establishing group dynamics. I'll be working from the core rulebook for the system and will happily walk you through the character creation process! [Character Creation and Session 0 Free!]
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Gameplay and Character Creation will happen over Discord! Once you join the server, you will be added to the channels for this game. After being added to the channel, reach out to me about setting up a character creation setting!
What Josh brings to the table
I'll be bringing in some visual aids (scene cards, digital maps, etc.) and some sound effects or soundscapes to help create a sense of immersion in the story. Also, as far as rules go, I am always a 'rules flexible' DM. Rules should serve the story we're telling. Rules as written provide solid guardrails for story, however are not universally useful. If we find something needs adjustment either in character creation or in between sessions, we can adjust it!
Homebrew rules
I have modified the RaW travel rules to be a bit closer to hex-crawl travel rules, so as to flesh out travel with more encounter rolls.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Microphone
Computer or Mobile Device
Webcam
Platforms used
Safety
How Josh creates a safe table
I'll be using the RPG Safety Checklist. I'll be transferring that into 'Lines and Veils' a set of language that explains where 'hard lines' of content that we will not touch on, and 'veiled' content which we will not narratively detail and will only ever keep on the periphery of gameplay if at all. From there in any instance where a scene may appear to head towards a 'veil' we will either avoid the content entirely or 'fade to black' on that narrative beat and move to the scene that follows. The following content warnings are elements present in the lore and content of the world that will be filtered and managed carefully based on outcomes from the Safety Checklist. If you have any questions regarding the Content Warnings I would love to address that while going over the Safety Checklist!
Content warnings
Safety tools used